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Subject:summary: variables and .html From:Wrdfinesse -at- aol -dot- com To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 19 Jun 2001 16:52:19 EDT
I posted a plaintive query yesterday regarding the use of variables in .html files. Thanks to all who answered!
The globally applicable solution is to use server-side includes. This involves creating a .txt or .shtml source file for each variable, storing the source files at the top of the directory tree, then calling out the file content as follows:
"<!--#include virtual="/filename.shtml:-->
The solution for my situation is slightly different. My developer created a series of property tags for me, which are stored in a prop file which is called when the app launches. We defined the tags appropriately, then I simply replace the offending text with a call to the defined property, thusly:
Select $(productdujour.name)to enable the application
This involves one more edit pass to "metaphoricalize" (my developer's term ... which I kind of like now) the source ... much akin to replacing offending text with a variable string in Frame. But future updates are easy, as it simply involves redefining in one file the string associated with the property tag.
Again, many many thanks to you all. Several dozen people contacted me with suggestions and commiserations - and two offered to "instruct" the marketing folks on the impacts of certain decisions.
Anne Halsey
wrdfinesse -at- aol -dot- com
ahalsey -at- evoke -dot- com
PS: The decision was made to revert to the previous product name and terminology set until marketing could study the issue and come up with a better name. Which should happen in the July/August timeframe. Which means I'll be playin' this tune again soon ...
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